"Ever since the day, Mr. Tag-rag, after that on which I called on him here!" replied Gammon, pointedly. "You--don't--say--so!"--exclaimed Tag-rag, and then continued silent for nearly half a minute, evidently amazed beyond all power of expression. "Well,"--at length he observed--"I _will_ say this--with all his few faults--he's the most amiable young gentleman--the _very amiablest_ young gentleman I--ever--came near. I always thought there was something uncommon superior-like in his looks." "Yes--I think he _is_ of rather an amiable turn," observed Gammon, with an expressive smile--"very gentlemanlike--and so intelligent"---- "Intelligent! Mr. Gammon! you should only have known him as I have known him!--Well, to be sure!--Lord! His only fault was, that he was above his business; but when one comes to think of it, how could it be otherwise? From the time I first clapped eyes on him--I--I--knew he was--a superior article--quite superior--you know what I mean, sir?--he couldn't help it, of course!--to be sure--he never was much liked by the other young men; but that was jealousy!--all jealousy; I saw that all the while." Here he looked at the door, and added in a very low tone, "Many sleepless nights has their bad treatment of Mr. Titmouse cost me!--Even I, now and then, used to look and speak sharply to him--just to keep him, as it were, down to the mark of the others--he was so uncommon handsome and genteel in his manner, sir. I remember telling my good lady the very first day he came to me, that he was a gentleman born--or ought to have been one." Now, do you suppose, acute reader, that Mr. Tag-rag was insincere in all this? By no means. He spoke the real dictates of his heart, unaware of the sudden change which had taken place in his feelings. It certainly has an ugly look of improbability--but it was the _nature of the beast_; his eye suddenly caught a glimpse of the golden calf, and he instinctively fell down and worshipped it. "Well--at all events," said Mr. Gammon, scarcely able to keep a serious expression on his face--"though he's not lived much like a gentleman hitherto, yet he will live for the future like a _very great gentleman_--and spend his money like one, too." "I--I--dare say--- he will!--I wonder how he _will_ get through a quarter of it!--what do _you_ think he'll do, sir?" "Heaven only knows--he may very shortly do just what he likes! Go into the House of Commons, or--perhaps--have a peerage given him"----